ANOTHER WIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 267, 12 November 1945, Page 5

ANOTHER WIN

N.Z. RUGBY TEAM

BRIGHT, FAST MATCH BETTER SHOWING BY PACK AGAINST STRONG SIDE (Official War Correspondent—N.Z.E.F.) Recd. 6 p.m. Leeds, Nov. 10. Beating Northern Services by 14 points to 7 at Headingley, the N.Z.E.F. Rugby team provided a crowd of nearly 20,000 with a fine exhibition of the fastest Rugby Union game seen at Leeds for many years. Against 12 internationals, drawn from" both sides, the Kiwis were fully extended, and, with both sets of hacks throwing the ball around, the game was crammed with exciting incidents.

The New Zealanders* pack to-day showed much more fire than in Wales, and gave its backs a fair share of the ball, and though they scored only two tries, each came from classic combined movements which completely beat an exceptionally fine and experienced defence. . The “Kiwis’ ” backs made more mistakes than their more experienced opponents, but also showed much more thrust, and, for the last quarter of the game, the tourists were attacking consistently. From the start of the game both sets of backs gave the ball an airing, Services going very close before a forward pass spoiled the movement. Arnold and Rhind broke clean through but were recalled, and Services carried play # back with two good passing rushes. Dobson missed a low pass, but dribbled through to the full-back, who cleared brilliantly. Then Johnson, on the Services’ right wing, electrified Ihe crowd with a great side-stepping run until Smith dpwned him. Good play by Edwards and Allen took play back, and Cook kicked a good penalty goal. E. Evans made a long solo run through poor tackling, and, from loose play in New Zealand quarter, C. Evans kicked a fine field goal.—Services 4, N.Z.E.F. 3.

The packs were scrummaging vigorously, with the “Kiwi” forwards getting the ball back much better than in the previous three games. Cook, and then Ward, missed penalties. From loose play the ball went to Argus, who made a fine run, but stepped out into touch. A minute later Argus was flying again, after a good passing rush, and veered infield, where tie was stopped. Cook missed another penalty. The Services forwards bustled the play to Cook, who just cleared. GREAT PASSING RUSH Then came a great passing rush, Dobson cutting in and Smith giving Argus room to work. Argus bumped off two tacklers, then sent the ball infield to Dobson, who ran over unopposed. Cook missed the kick.— N.Z.E.F. 6. Services 4. The “Kiwi” packmen were now playing a great bustling game. Edwards and Argus worked the blind side of a scrum, but Argus was downed and Edwards got the ball away again on the open side, Smith brilliantly going between two defenders and sending Boggs on a long run to score wide out. Cook converted and halftime came with the scores.—N.Z.E.F. 11, Services 4.

From the kick-off the “Kiwis” attacked, and when a passing rush was well blocked. Smith failed with an attempt at a field goal. From a scrum the ball travelled along to Argus, then back to Dobson, to Smith, who lined in the Services’ quarter. In another passing rush the fifll-back. Trott, who played a great game, fielded Dobson's short punt, and lined with a long kick. The Services’ forwards carried on from a line-out, then let the ball go to the backs, Smith stopping the movement with a fine kick. Again the Services attacked, the forwards breaking through but Cook, who was thrilling the crowd with long line kicks, drove the play back. The Services’ backs drove deep, with a good passifig rush. Then, from a scrum, the scrum-half Ellis passed to C. Evans, the stand-off half, on a narrow blind side, and Evans jigged through the defence with an amazingly clever run. Boggs caught him as he crossed the line and held him upright, then pushed him out of touch in goal, but the referee ruled he had touched down. Ward missed with the kick.—Services 7, N.Z.E.F. 11. From the restart the “Kiwi” forwards bustled play 1o the Services’ line, and Cook kicked a good penalty.

—N.Z.E.F. 14, Services 7. Though there was no further score play continued very fast and exciting, with Trott putting up a munificent performance and repeatedly getting the ball away to the line. Ward came to light: with a fine solo run, but was injured and retired. He had been a continual menace to the “Kiwis” with strong, tricky runs. Johnson kicked ahead, but Trott was there. Smith and Boggs showed up in a good run, Johnson stopping it. Then Ellis twice found the line when hard pressed. A minute later Ellis retired Injured, but resumed a little later.

The “Kiwis” continued the pressure in the last few minutes of the match, but were unable to score. MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN FORWARDS

A marked improvement in the forwards makes prospects in future matches much brighter. The chief weakness of the team now is occasional lapses into poor tackling. It took a really tine rearguard to keep the “Kiwi” tries down to two to-day. The team found the interpretation of the referee, Mr J. B. G. Whittaker, secretary of the Lancashire Rugby Union, easier 1o follow than previous whistlers, but the improvement in forward pkty evidently was due to a few games together and to the rest they had in London before this match. Rhind, Arnold and Simpson were the best of the forwards. Smith, who is already getting a great reputation in England, was t>e best of ttie backs, and Argus played an exceptionally line flame. Edwards, at half-back, stood up splendidly to much attention from loose forwards, and played his best game to date.

N.Z. SERVICES TEAM BEATS OXFORD UNIVERSITY

Recd. 7.30 p.m. London, Nov. 1.1. The New Zealand Services Rugby team defeated Oxford University by 8 points to 3 at Oxford. They won by